St. Paul firefighters show off new calendar – TwinCities.com

St. Paul firefighters show off new calendar

St. Paul firefighter Michael Gilles is one of the people featured in the 2013 St. Paul firefighter calendar.

The St. Paul Fire Foundation hopes calendars of firefighters who are shirtless and showing off muscles will be hot-selling items for Christmas shoppers this weekend.

The foundation is selling the 2013 St. Paul firefighter calendars at Rosedale Mall on Friday, Dec. 21, Saturday and Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., directly outside of Macy’s on the lower level. They’ll be specially priced for Christmas: $10 each (regularly $15) or three for $25.

Proceeds support the non-profit St. Paul Fire Foundation whose initiatives include putting firefighters through paramedic school, providing heart scans for firefighters over the age of 40 because of their high risk of heart disease, adding workout equipment at fire stations, putting defibrillators in public schools and recreation centers, and getting flags for fire hydrants so they can be found more easily in the snow, said Mary Kaase, foundation executive director.

Kaase said she’s humbled and proud to be the mother of one of the firefighters featured in the calendar, Michael Gilles.

“He’s worked out since he’s been about 16 and he works out everyday,” she said. “I’m thinking what the heck, it’s for a great cause.”